Roy Hodgson admitted that seeing Theo Walcott taken to hospital after a brutal
challenge from Aldo Simoncini, the San Marino goalkeeper, put a “dampener”
on his side’s 5-0 win at Wembley last night against the side ranked by Fifa
as the worst in world football.

Two goals from Wayne Rooney — his 30th and 31st for his country, making him
the fifth-highest scorer in England history — on his competitive debut as
captain helped Hodgson’s team to claim top spot in World Cup qualifying
group H before the altogether more challenging trip to face Poland in Warsaw
on Tuesday.